CASPER, Wyo. — The Idaho Game and Fish Department are asking the public to share information they may have on a number of recent illegal waterfowl wasting cases.
The department said on Monday, Jan. 25 that 34 whole and partially dressed waterfowl were recently found dumped behind a Fred Meyer Store at Glenwood and Chinden in Garden City, Idaho.
This is the fifth such case reported since late December.
The 34 waterfowl found wasted in the most recent case were likely dumped just before 8 pm Wednesday, Jan. 20, according to Idaho Fish and Game.
“Fish and Game district conservation officer Ben Cadwallader investigated the incident and found 19 whole waterfowl carcasses, mostly mallards, along with 15 others with the breast meat removed,” the department said.
Security camera footage has identified a 2008 to 2019 Ford Super Duty Extra Cab as the suspect vehicle in the case. The truck is “dark in color, possibly black, with a white or lighter color stripe along the running board,” Fish and Game says.
“Evidence was collected at the scene, but Cadwallader hopes to learn more about the case from an eyewitness or others who have knowledge of the incident,” Fish and Game added.
Cadwallader said: “I am very interested in visiting with anyone who has information regarding this wanton waste case.”
“Citizens Against Poaching (CAP) is offering a reward for information in the case and callers can remain anonymous. Contact CAP at 1-800-632-5999 twenty four hours a day,” the department said. “In addition to the CAP hotline, persons with information regarding this case may also call the Fish and Game Nampa office at 208-465-8465 weekdays and Idaho State Police at 208-846-7550 on weekends.”
Idaho Fish and Game reported Friday that they were seeking information on four other waterfowl wasting cases.
The department said Friday that at least five Canada geese had been located at the base of a cliff in southeast Idaho “where they had been tossed and left to waste after being shot.”
“The disposal site was likely accessed via a two-track dirt road off of Beach Road which runs along American Falls Reservoir just outside of Aberdeen,” Fish and Game said.
Another waterfowl wasting case in southeast Idaho occurred in late December 2020. Duck carcasses were found dumped off of Hall Road in McCammon.
“In the Magic Valley Region, Idaho Fish and Game is still seeking information regarding the waste of multiple geese along the Snake River in Minidoka County in two separate incidents during this same timeframe,” Idaho Fish and Game said on Friday. “Idaho code is clear on this issue: waste of game birds is illegal. The edible portions of meat must be taken, which is the breast meat for ducks and geese.”
The department added: “Those with information regarding any of these waterfowl waste cases can call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999 or either of the regional Fish and Game offices in Pocatello (208-232-4703) or Jerome (208-324-4359). Callers can remain anonymous, and there are rewards for information that leads to arrests in any of these cases.”
